First Case of Wild Tick Infection Reported in Imsil, Jeonbuk

54-Year-Old Male Hospitalized and Receiving Treatment at Jeonbuk National University Hospital

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Geon-ju] Jeonbuk Province announced on the 4th that a 54-year-old man residing in Imsil-gun, Jeonbuk, has been confirmed as the first case this year of Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (SFTS) caused by a wild tick bite and is currently undergoing treatment.

According to the provincial health authorities, the patient recently worked in his vegetable garden and visited a medical institution in the province on the 1st of this month for outpatient treatment due to fever symptoms. However, high fever, diarrhea, headache, and muscle pain persisted, leading to his hospitalization through the emergency room of Jeonbuk National University Hospital on the 3rd.

Although there was no visible tick bite mark, SFTS was suspected due to decreased platelet count and elevated liver enzymes. Virus testing was conducted, and the Jeonbuk Institute of Health and Environment diagnosed him as SFTS positive. The patient is showing related symptoms but is in stable condition and receiving treatment.

SFTS has been reported in South Korea, China, Japan, Taiwan, and Vietnam, with a high fatality rate of approximately 12-47%. It is a disease transmitted by bites from wild ticks infected with the SFTS virus (such as Haemaphysalis longicornis).

Meanwhile, in Jeonbuk, there were 2 cases (2 deaths) in 2015, 3 cases in 2016, 10 cases (2 deaths) in 2017, 13 cases (6 deaths) in 2018, 18 cases (5 deaths) in 2019, and 1 case so far in 2020.